University of Virginia Library

Actus Quarti

Scena Prima.

Organs Violls and Voices play for this Act.
Enter Sophonisba and Zanthia as out of a caues mouth
So.
Where are wee Zanthia?

Za.
Vangue said the caue
Op'ned in Belos forrest.

So.
Lord how sweete
I sent the ayre? the huge longe vaultes close vaine,
What dumps it breathd? In Belos forrest sayst?
Be valiant Zanthia; how farr's Vtica
From these most heauy shades?

Zan.
Ten easy leages.

So.
Thers Massinissa, my true Zanthia
Shals venture nobly to escape, and touch
My Lordes just armes: Loues winges so justly heaue
The body vp, that as our toes shall trip
Ouer the tender and obedient grasse,
Scarse any drop of dew is dasht to ground.
And see the willing shade of friendly night
Makes safe our instant haste: Boldnesse and speede
Make actions wost impossible succeede.

Za.
But Madam know the forrest hath no way
But one to passe the which holds strictest gard.

So.
Doe not betray me Zanthia.

Za.
I Madam.

So.
No
I not mistrust thee, yet, but,

Za.
Here you may
Delay your time.

So.

Za.
Madam ile search
For some ripe Nuts which Autumn hath shook down
From the vnleau'd Hasel, then some cooler ayre
Shall lead me to a spring: Or I will try
The courteous pale of some poore forrestres,
For milke.

So.
Exit Zanthia.
Do Zanthia, O happinesse,
Of those that know not pride or lust of citty,
Ther's no man bless'd but those that most men pitty.
O fortunate poore maides, that are not forc'd,
To wed for state nor are for state diuorc'd!
Whome policy of kingdoms doth not marry,
But pure affection makes to loue or vary,
You feele no loue, which you dare not to shew,
Nor show a loue which doth not truely grow:
O you are surely blessed of the skie,
You liue, that know not death before you die,
Through the vautes mouth in his night gowne, torch in his hand, Syphax enters iust behind Sophon.
You are:

Sy.
In Syphax armes, thing of false lip,
What God shall now release thee,

So.
Art a man?

Sy.
Thy limbs shall feele, despight thy vertue know
I'le thredd thy richest pearle: this forrests deafe,
As is my lust: Night and the God of scilence,
Swels my full pleasures, no more shalt thou delude,
My easie credence Virgin of faire brow,
Well featurde creature, and our vtmost wonder,
Queene of our youthfull bed be proud,
Syphax setteth away his light, & prepareth tiu'bruce Soph.
Ile vse thee,

Sopho snatcheth out her knife.
So.
Look thee, view this, show but one strain of force
Bow but to sease this arme, and by my selfe,
Or more by Massinissa this good steele,
Shall set my soule on wing, thus formde Gods fee,
And men with Gods worth enuy nought but me.

Sy.
Doe strike thy breast, know being dead, Ile vse,
With highest lust of sense thy senselesse flesh,
And euen then thy vexed soule shall see,
Without resistance, thy trunke prostitute,
Vnto our appetite.

So.
I shame to make thee know,
How vile thou speakest: Corruption then as much,
As thou shalt doe: but frame vnto thy lusts,
Imaginations vtmost sin: Syphax,
I speake all frightles, know I liue or die
To Massinissa, nor the force of fate
Shall make me leaue his loue, or slake thy hate.
I will speake no more,

Sy.
Thou hast amazde vs, Womans forced vse,
Like vnripe fruites, no sooner got but waste,
They haue proportion, colour but no taste,
Thinke Syphax—Sophonisba rest thine owne,
Our Guard,
Enter a Guard.
Creature of most astonishing vertue,
If with faire vsage, loue and passionate courtings,
We may obtaine, the heauen of thy bed,
We cease, no sute from other force be free.
VVe dote not on thy body, but loue thee,

So.
Wilt thou keep faith?

Sy.
By thee & by that power
By which thou art thus glorious, trust my vow,
Our guard, conuay the roialst excellence
That euer was cald Woman, to our Pallace,
Obserue her with strict care:

So.
Dread Syphax speak
As thou art worthy: is not Zanthia false?

Sy.
To thee shee is.

So.
As thou art then thy selfe
Let hir not bee.

Sy.
Shee is not.

The gaurd seizeth Zanthia.
Za.
Thus most speed when two foes are growne friends
Partakers bleed.

Sy.
When Plants must florish
Their manure must rot.

So.
Syphax bee recompenced.
I hate thee not.

Sopho. Exit.
Sy,
Infernall Musicke plaies softly whilst Erichtho enters and & when she speakes ceaseth.

Eri.
Here Syphax here, quake not, for know
I know thy thoughts, thou wouldst entreat our power,
Nice Sophonisba's passion to enforce
To thy affection be al full of Ioue,
Tis done, tis done, to vs heaue earth, sea, aire,
And Fate it selfe obayes, the beastes of death,
And all the terrors angry Gods inuented,
(T'afflict th'ignorance of patient man),
Tremble at vs: the roulde vp snake vncurlde,
His twisted knots at our affrighting voice,
Are we incensd? the King of flames grows pale,
Least he be choakde with blacke and earthy fumes,
Which our charms raise: Be ioi'd, make proud thy lust
I doe not pray you Gods, my breathes: You must.

Sy.
Deepe knowing spirit, mother of all high
Misterious science, what may Syphax yeeld,
Worthy thy art, by which my soule's thus easde,
The Gods first made me liue, but thou liue pleasde.

Eri.
Know then our loue, hard by the reuerēt ruines
Of a once glorious temple rearde to Ioue,
Whose very rubbish (like the pittied fall,
Of Vertue much vnfortunate) yet beares,
A deathlesse Maiesty though now quite rac'd,
Hurld downe by wrath, and lust of impious Kings
So that where holy Flamins wont to sing,
Sweet Hyms to heauen, there the daw and crow,
The ill voic'de Rauen, and still chattering Pie:
Send out vngratefull sound, and loathsome filth,
Where statues and Ioues acts were viuely lim'd
Boyes with blacke coales, draw the vaild parts of nature,
And leacherous actions of imaginde lust,
Where tombes and beauteous vrns of well dead men.
Stoode in assured rest, the shepheard now,
Vnloads his belly: Corruption most abhord
Mingling it selfe with their renowned ashees,
Our selfe quakes at it.
There once a Charnel house, now a vast caue,
Ouer whose brow a pale and vnt rod groue
Throwes out her heauy shade, the mouth thick armes
Of darksom Ewe, (Sun proofe) for euer choake
Within rests barren darknesse, fruitlesse drough
Pines in eternal Night: The steame of Hell
Yeeldes not so lasie ayre: there that's my cell
From thence a charme which Ioue dare not here twice
Shall force her to thy bed: but Syphax know
Loue is the highest rebell to our art.
Therfore I charge thee by the feare of all
Which thou knowest dreadfull, or more, by our selfe;
As with swift hast she passeth to thy bed,
And easie to thy wishes yeelds: speake not one word,
Nor dare as thou dost feare thy losse of joyes
T'admit one light, one light,

Sy.
As to my Fate
I yeeld my guidance.

Eri.
Then when I shall force
The ayre to musicke and the shads of night
To forme sweete sounds: make proud thy rais'd delight.
Meane time behold I go a charme to reare
Whose potent sound will force our selfe to feare.

Sy.
Whither is Syphax heau'd? at length shalls joy
Hopes more desired then Heauen? Sweet laboring Earth
Let Heauen be vnform'd with mighty charmes,
Let Sophonisba only fill these armes.
Ioue weele not enuie thee: Blouds appetite
Is Syphax God: My wisedome is my sense,
Without a man I hold no excellence.
Giue me long breath yong beds and sicklesse ease
For we hold firme thats lawfull which doeth please
Infernall Musique softly.
Harke, harke, now rise infernall tones
The depe fetch'd grones
Of laboring spirits that attend
Erichtho.

Eri.
Erichtho.

within.
Sy.
Now cracke the trembling earth and send
Shreekes that portend
Affrightment to the Gods which heare
Erichtho.

Eri.
Erichtho
within
A treble Uioll and a base Lute play softlyd within the Canopy.
Harke harke, now softer melody strikes mute
Disquiet nature: O thou power of sound
How thou dost melt me. Harke, now euen Heauen
Giues vp his soule amongst vs: Now's the time
When gready expectation strains mine eyes
For their lou'd object: now Erichtho will'd
Prepare my appetite for loues strict gripes
O you dear founts of pleasure Bloud and Beauty
Rayse actiue venus worth fruition
Of such prouoking sweetnesse. Harke: shee coms,
A short song to soft Musique aboue.
Now nuptiall Hymes inforced Spirits sing
Harke, (Syphax) harke:
Cantant.
Now Hell and Heauen ringes
With Musique spigh of Phœbus: Peace:
Enter Erichtho in the shape of Sophonisba, her face vailed and hasteth in the bed of Syphax.
Shee coms:
Fury of blouds impatient: Erichtho
Boue thunder sit; to thee egregious soule
Let all flesh bend. Sophonisba thy flame
But equall mine, and weele ioy such delight
That Gods shall not admire, but euen spight.

Syphax hasteneth within the Canopy as to Sophonisbas bed